MoneyTipsHave you read anything lately that was so important that it changed your life? If not, we would like to suggest something to read — your credit report. Granted, simply reading your credit report may not have any effect on your life, but failure to do so can harm your life if identity thieves are opening accounts in your name and racking up bills without your knowledge. A review of your credit reports can reveal several issues to correct, including false accounts and errors in reporting your bill payments. Erroneous data can cost you money by lowering your credit score and also potentially cause you to be denied credit cards, mortgage loans or other forms of credit. Your credit report represents a relatively comprehensive record of all of your credit activity. It contains information from any creditor that reports activity to the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion). Information is not automatically reported to all three agencies, so it is best to check all three reports to get the full picture. You can see all three credit reports right away by using Credit Manager by MoneyTips. Each agency's credit report differs slightly in format, but they will all contain the same basic types of information. Personal Information – Your name, addresses associated with any of your accounts, birthdate, and any other personal information such as telephone numbers or employment information. There may be multiple names including misspellings, nicknames, and maiden names. Check for any names that may be signs of errors or fraud. Any fraud alerts or personal statements that you have included should show up in this area of the report. Public Records – This section contains financial account information from legal actions that are public record. Civil judgments against you, tax liens, and bankruptcies are the types of information recorded here. Account information – This is typically split into two main categories: Accounts in Good Standing and Adverse Accounts. Up to two years of your credit activity may be available for each account. Both installment accounts (such as auto and student loans) and revolving credit accounts (such as credit cards) will be included and may have their own subheadings. Mortgage accounts may be listed separately. Each account listing contains items such as creditor information, account numbers, loan status, date opened, current balances, high balances, credit limits, estimated date of removal for installment accounts, monthly payments, and the date of last activity. Payment histories are often shown with color-coding as green for paid and yellow/red for missed or delinquent payments. Credit Inquiries – These are requests to view your credit report, including your own requests as well as those from potential creditors. One section covers soft inquiries such as your own requests or promotional inquiries that can only be seen by you; the other section covers hard inquiries based on credit applications that can be seen by both you and the requesting lender. The date of the request is noted, along with information on the requestor such as business type and date of removal (requests may remain on the report for up to 2 years). Not every creditor reports to the credit bureaus; do not be worried if you do not see all of your accounts. Focus on any information that is erroneously reported, accounts that you did not open, or unsolicited hard pulls on your credit. Errors in your personal information could be inadvertent, or a sign of someone attempting to open a false account. In either case, it's important to contact the credit bureau to get the discrepancy resolved. Similarly, review your account history for any incorrectly reported payments and anything in the adverse account section that gives an inaccurate reflection of your account. Follow up with creditors on any unsolicited hard pull that you do not recognize. You may be able to stop a fraudulent account before it can be activated. In the case of accounts that have already been opened, you must take immediate action with the creditors to close these accounts and limit the damage. If you find evidence of identity theft, apply a credit freeze on your account to prevent any more fraudulent accounts to be opened without your consent. You will need to lift the freeze temporarily to open any legitimate new accounts. By keeping up with your credit reports, you can have the peace of mind that comes with secure credit accounts — or the peace of mind that comes with stopping a thief from stealing your identity and draining your accounts. Either way, peace is yours. You can check your credit score and read your credit report for free within minutes using Credit Manager by MoneyTips. Originally Posted at: https://www.moneytips.com/how-to-read-your-credit-reportVideo: How to Resolve Negative Items on Your Credit ReportVideo: Top 2 Factors For High Credit ScoresHow Millennials Can Improve Their Credit Scores

A wedding gift needs to serve multiple purposes: You want it to say “congratulations” and avoid giving the impression that your wallet has been to one too many other celebrations this season.

There’s no easy answer to the question of how much is the right amount to spend on a wedding gift, but if you’re looking for guidance, these tips can help.

If you say no

If you’re invited to a wedding and RSVP no, you’re technically not on the hook to buy a present, according to lifestyle and etiquette expert Elaine Swann. Having something from the registry sent to the couple is a nice gesture, but not mandatory.

If you say yes

If you say yes, you’ll be expected to provide a gift. The difficult part is deciding how much to spend on it.

If you’re the kind of person who likes to compare, consider what other guests spend. The national average cash gift amount is $160, according to the 2016 Wedding Season Report by cash-giving platform Tendr, although regional averages vary. In Arkansas, the average gift is $73, while it’s $245 in Vermont.

Gift expectations also depend on your relationship: The closer you are to the bride and groom, the higher your financial obligation. “I think if you’re very good friends or family members, you’re going to probably want to give a little more than if you’re not as close to the couple,” says Diane Forden, the editor-in-chief at Bridal Guide magazine.

Another consideration? If you’re flying solo at the wedding, a smaller gift can suffice. Couples usually give more than individuals, according to Forden.

If you have other obligations

As a general rule, the more that’s required of you as a guest, the less that’s required when it comes to the gift.

“With a destination wedding, in my opinion, your presence is a present,” Swann says. “So for those who go out of their way to pay for airfare and hotel and all of the festivities around a destination wedding, then that’s your gift to the couple.”

You can also cut back on the gift if you’re in the bridal party. Between the showers, the bachelorette party and the bridesmaid dress, the whole process can be “financially crushing,” Forden says. If you’re feeling the pinch, she suggests chipping in on a group gift with your fellow bridesmaids.

Finances always trump etiquette. There’s nothing wrong with selecting an affordable present — even if it’s the least extravagant item on the registry, or it’s not on the registry at all.

“People should never be ashamed about being fiscally responsible,” Swann says. “So if you cannot afford to get an expensive gift, then don’t do it. Hold your head up high and say, ‘You know what, my budget allowed me to get this beautiful card, and that’s it.’”

Don’t overthink it. There’s no right or wrong amount to spend on a wedding gift, and weddings aren’t about the gifts, anyway.

“The focus shouldn’t really be on gifts,” Forden says. “It shouldn’t be a gift grab. It’s a celebration of a marriage, and I do think a lot of brides and grooms are aware of that.”

It’s easy to get caught up in credit card incentives, such as cash back, travel perks and sign-up bonuses. But if your credit cards don’t match your spending personality, you might not get the rewards you expect, or you might end up paying too much in fees.

One in five consumers carries a card that “has fees or rewards not aligned with their actual purchase habits,” according to J.D. Power’s 2016 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction study.

And circumstances change. Even a credit card that was once compatible with your spending habits might no longer be the best fit. Identify your spending personality to determine whether the cards in your wallet are offering you the most value right now.

The jetsetter

If you travel in style often and want big rewards for your spending, a premium credit card will go further than a regular travel card. Some premium cards offer credits for airlines, hotels or airport security screening programs, as well as airport lounge access. They come with a large annual fee, but you likely spend enough to earn it back in the form of perks and a generous sign-up bonus.

The explorer

Travel is your hobby, but you’re not loyal to airline brands; you’re loyal to the best deals. General travel credit cards offer flexibility in reward redemption. Some charge annual fees, but you can often make up the cost in rewards, and the best cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees. However, travel rewards might lose value if you redeem them for anything other than travel.

The cash-back connoisseur

You like knowing the exact value of your rewards in cash, and you use plastic at every opportunity to earn more. Tiered and bonus-category cash-back credit cards offer higher rates on certain purchases and 1% on everything else. You could get more value by pairing one of these with a flat-rate cash-back card that pays 2% for all purchases. Minimalists should consider a single flat-rate cash-back card.

The balance carrier

Your paychecks aren’t always steady, so sometimes you lean on a credit card, and it’s not always possible for you to pay the balance in full every month. Still, you make sure you never miss a payment. Cash-back credit cards are tempting, but their high interest charges will outweigh your rewards. A low-interest credit card is more likely to save you money over time.

The self-starter

If you have bad credit or no credit, you probably have limited credit card options. Secured credit cards offer an opportunity for credit building. They require a security deposit that you get back after closing the account or upgrading to a regular, unsecured card. The credit limit is often relatively low, equal to the security deposit.

The survivor

You’re struggling to pay off debt, but if you have good or excellent credit, a balance transfer credit card can provide a way out. It allows you to transfer a balance from an existing credit card to take advantage of a lower interest rate. A card with a low balance transfer fee and a 0% annual percentage rate period can give you time to catch up on payments.

The optimizer

You’ll go to great lengths to get a good deal, including managing multiple credit card bills. Mixing and matching cards can be worth it as long as you save money. Just watch out for annual fees or interest.

If your credit card is no longer a match, it might be time to move on. But unless it charges an annual fee, don’t rush to close the account, because that could impact the length of your credit history — and your credit score.

Keep current cards active with the occasional, small purchase and use a new credit card to swipe your way toward your goals.